Emmarentia Dam – Saturday, 2 August 2025
Fifteen thousand festivalgoers experienced one of the most epic annual Afrikaans music events at Emmarentia Dam in Johannesburg on Saturday. It was the ninth edition of Liefde by die Dam. Every year top pop and alternative Afrikaans artists perform on the iconic Flying Fish carpet in front of a sold out festival field. The unique “Liefde” themed festival design with huge inflatable ducks, disco balls, heart shaped candies and even a giant installation of an engagement ring, is one of a kind.
Pierre Greeff from Die Heuwels Fantasties and also one of the main organisers of Liefde by die Dam says: “The production was on an enormous scale this year and we could not have asked for it to run more smoothly. Everything was perfect: Sunny weather, happy crowd and a lot of liefde and goeie gees going qround. Probably my favourite one yet!”
Pierre Greeff photo by Wayde Flowerday.
Since 2016, tickets for Liefde by die Dam in Johannesburg sells out in a flash every year. It was the same this year when tickets were all gone within three hours on launch day in May.
Jack Parow in the Liefde crowd photo by Wayde Flowerday.
Wilma van Heerden, Henru & Schwabie, Eloff, Jay, Appel, Karlien van Jaarsveld, Danny Smoke, Die Piesangskille, Kurt Darren, Robbie Wessels, Riaan Benadé, Die beste band in die wêreld ooit, Die Heuwels Fantasties. Jack Parow, Francois van Coke en Early B were on the line-up this year. Surprise acts included Bobby Van Jaarsveld, Bobbejan and VAN PLETZEN.
Francois van Coke photo by Wayde Flowerday.
Competitions and activations hosted by Liefde by die Dam sponsors Flying Fish, ZARbet, Naked and We Buy Cars curated enhanced festival experiences for participating festivalgoers. Media partner kykNET also brought an exciting activation to the festival: ladies could enter for the fourth season of Op my Eish!, a reality TV series in which an Afrikaans male celebrity is looking for love.
MC Schalk Bezuidenhout photo by Wayde Flowerday.
A special Liefde by die Dam tradition is for festivalgoers to leave their blankets behind. Moeggesukkel https://moeggesukkel.co.za/) collected them after the festival, for distribution in communities where it is needed.
Greeff says: “Thank you to everyone who shared this amazing day with us: the artists, crowd, our sponsors and every person working on the field. It was one for the books. Next year we will be 10 years old. It is going to be super special!”
Liefde by die Dam will also be held at Meerendal in Cape Town on 1 November and Liefde by die Nam in Windhoek on 4 October. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
Liefde by die Dam Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiefdeByDieDam
Liefde by die Dam Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiefdeD
Liefde by die Dam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LiefdeByDieDam
Liefde by die Dam would like to thank outr sponsors and partners: Flying Fish, lift, SA`s most flexible airline, Naked Insure, We Buy Cars, ZARbet, kykNET and Ticketmaster.
Early B photo by Wayde Flowerday.